Game operating device

• US 9,498,728 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2015
• Issued: 11/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Ikeda, Akio, Kuroda, Ryoji, Urata, Masahiro, Ito, Kuniaki
• Primary Examiner(s): D'AGOSTINO, PAUL ANTHONY
• Application Number:
  US14/631,259
• Publication Number:
  US 20150165311A1
• Time in Patent Office: 636 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/23 for interfacing with the game device, e.g. specific interfaces between game controller and console
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/533 for prompting the player, e.g. by displaying a game menu
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/98 Accessories, i.e. detachable arrangements optional for the use of the video game device, e.g. grip supports of game controllers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1006 having additional degrees of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1087 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/308 Details of the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/558 by assessing the players' skills or ranking

Abstract

A game operating device (controller) includes a longitudinal housing, and a holding portion held by hand to be wrapped by its palm it is formed in the housing. A direction switch is provided on an upper surface at a position where it can be operated by thumb of the hand holding the holding portion, and a start switch and a select switch are provided backward thereof. An X button 46 and a Y button are further arranged in line on the upper surface of the housing. An imaging information arithmetic unit is provided at a front end of the housing in a longitudinal direction in such a manner that an imaging device thereof is exposed from a front-end surface. A concave portion is formed on a lower surface at a position corresponding to the direction switch. The concave portion includes a valley and two inclined surfaces. An A button capable of being operated by index finger of the hand holding the holding portion is provided on the backward inclined surface. By processing an image signal obtained by imaging an infrared ray from LED modules by the imaging device, it is possible to obtain an operation signal varying according to a position and/or attitude of the controller.

Claims

1. A game controller, comprising:

a housing having an upper surface;

a wireless transceiver configured to communicate with a game playing device;

four indicator lights located on the upper surface of the housing, the indicator lights being aligned to form a single row that extends laterally on the upper surface of the housing, wherein the row of indicator lights is symmetrically positioned on the upper surface with respect to the lateral direction;

control circuitry that causes at least one of the indicator lights to illuminate in response to a wireless signal received from the game playing device, wherein illumination of the at least one indicator lights provides identification information for the game controller; and

a directional input device located on the upper surface.

2. The game controller of claim 1, wherein the plurality of indicator lights are mounted in a corresponding plurality of apertures in the upper surface of the housing.

3. The game controller of claim 2, wherein upper surfaces of the plurality of indicator lights are substantially flush with the upper surface of the housing.

4. The game controller of claim 1, wherein the wireless signal received from the game playing device includes information specifying which of the plurality of indicator lights should be illuminated.

5. The game controller of claim 1, wherein the four indicator lights are positioned substantially at a center of the upper surface in the lateral direction.

6. The game controller of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry causes at least one of the plurality of indicator lights to illuminate to provide an indication as to which of multiple players should use the game controller to play a game.

7. The game controller of claim 1, further comprising an inertial sensor.

8. The game controller of claim 7, wherein the inertial sensor comprises an accelerometer-based inertial sensor.

9. The game controller of claim 7, wherein the inertial sensor comprises a gyroscopic-based inertial sensor.

10. The game controller of claim 1, further comprising a control button located on the upper surface, wherein operation of the control button causes the game controller to output a signal via the wireless transceiver that invokes a home menu function.

11. The game controller of claim 1, further comprising a power button located on the upper surface, wherein operation of the power button causes the game controller to output a signal via the wireless transceiver which causes a game playing device to be turned on and/or off.

12. The game controller of claim 11, wherein the power button is positioned such that a top surface of the power button is positioned substantially in the same plane as or below the upper surface when the power button is not depressed.

13. The game controller of claim 12, wherein when the power button is depressed, the top surface of the power button is located below the upper surface.

14. The game controller of claim 1, further comprising a trigger button that is located on the housing such that the trigger button can be operated by an index finger of a user'"'"'s hand that is holding the controller.

15. The game controller of claim 1, further comprising a vibrator that is configured to cause the controller to vibrate in response to receipt of a vibration signal from a game playing device.

16. The game controller of claim 1, further comprising an image sensor mounted on the housing and configured to capture images.

17. The game controller of claim 1, wherein the directional input device comprises a first directional input device, and further comprising a second directional input device that is also located on the upper surface.

18. The game controller of claim 17, wherein one of the first and second directional input devices comprises a cross-key or four control buttons arranged in a cross pattern, and wherein the other of the first and second directional input devices comprises an analog directional input device.

19. The game controller of claim 1, further comprising first and second control buttons that are located on the housing such that when a user holds the controller with both hands, a finger of the user'"'"'s first hand can operate the first control button and a finger of the user'"'"'s second hand can operate the second control button.

20. The game controller of claim 19, wherein the first and second control buttons are shoulder buttons.

21. A game controller, comprising:

a housing having an upper surface;

a wireless transceiver configured to communicate with a game playing device;

at least one indicator light that illuminates to provide identification information for the game controller, wherein the at least one indicator light is mounted in a corresponding aperture on a surface of the housing, wherein the at least one indicator light is symmetrically arranged on the housing with respect to a lateral direction of the housing, and wherein an upper surface of the at least one indicator light is substantially flush with a surrounding surface of the housing;

control circuitry that causes the at least one indicator light to selectively illuminate in response to a wireless signal received from the game playing device; and

a directional input device located on the upper surface.

22. The game controller of claim 21, further comprising a power button that is positioned on the upper surface such that the power button cannot be seen when the controller is viewed from the side.

23. The game controller of claim 22, wherein the power button is configured such that when the power button is depressed, a top surface of the power button is located below the upper surface.

24. The game controller of claim 22, wherein a portion of the upper surface surrounding the power button is angled downward with respect to a main planer portion of the upper surface.

25. The game controller of claim 21, further comprising first and second shoulder buttons that are located on a peripheral side surface of the housing such that when a user holds the controller with both hands, a finger of the user'"'"'s first hand can operate the first shoulder button and a finger of the user'"'"'s second hand can operate the second shoulder button.

26. A game controller, comprising:

a housing;

at least one indicator light that illuminates to provide identification information for the game controller, wherein the at least one indicator light is positioned substantially at a lateral center of a surface of the housing;

an inertial sensor mounted in the housing that outputs a signal that is indicative of an orientation or a change in orientation of the housing; and

a directional input device located on the housing.

27. A game controller, comprising:

a housing having an upper surface and a lower surface;

a directional input device that is located on the upper surface of the housing;

at least one indicator light that illuminates to provide identification information for the game controller, wherein the at least one indicator light is positioned substantially at a lateral center of a surface of the housing;

a wireless transceiver; and

a control button located on the upper surface, wherein operation on the control button causes the game controller to output a signal via the wireless transceiver that invokes a home menu function.

28. The game controller of claim 27, wherein the control button is positioned such that a top surface of the control button is positioned substantially in the same plane as or below the upper surface when the control button is not depressed.